A Florida jury has found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
The jury of 7 women and 5 men in Orlando did find the 25-year-old Anthony guilty of giving false information to a law enforcement in connection with the case. The jurors returned the verdict after more than 10 hours of deliberation.
Update at 2:32 p.m. ET: She hugged her attorney afterward, and a prosecutor shook his head in disbelief. She could have received a death sentence if she had been convicted of first-degree murder.
Update at 2: 26 p..m.ET: As each acquittal verdict was read, Anthony started to break into a sob, but held back. She occasionally took deep breaths as the rest of the verdict was read.
Update at 2:23 p.m. ET: The judge said Anthony will be sentenced on Thursday at 9 a.m. ET on the conviction of giving false information to law enforcement officers.
Update at 2:22 p.m. ET: Anthony quaked as the verdict was returned and wiped tears from her eyes.
Original post: Jurors in Orlando have reached a verdict in the murder trial of Casey Anthony, the Associated Press reports.
Anthony, 25, is accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in June 2008 by covering her mouth in duct tape. Caylee’s body was found six months later in woods near the Anthony home.
Lead defense attorney Jose Baez told the jury that Caylee accidentally drowned and that Casey’s father, George, helped Casey cover up the death to make it look like a homicide.
Casey Anthony never testified, and George Anthony denied any involvement in Caylee’s death or the disposal of her body.
The prosecution team said Casey Anthony dumped Caylee’s body in the woods and resumed her life of partying and shopping. She could receive the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder.
